The Annual Myth of the War on Christmas

Nobody is stealing Christmas.  Christmas is everywhere, with 10 pounds of unwanted glossy recycling even outweighing the newspaper it is stuffed into, and good Christian shoppers mowing down others (on Thanksgiving no less, when you would think we'd all want to be home with our families!) to grab for deals on cheap plastic crap they don't need.  As a matter of fact, historically speaking, it was Christians who stole the pagan Winter Solstice holiday!  Do you really think that the Christian's Jesus was born on December 25?  Can you find it in the Bible? Can you find even the mention of the winter season?

Did you know the original “war on Christmas” was perpetrated by Christians themselves who believed it wrong to make merry?  And that Christmas was outlawed in Boston from 1659 until 1681?  Christians in America and England helped pass laws making it illegal to observe Christmas, believing it was an insult to God to honor a day associated with ancient paganism.  All Christmas activities, including dancing, seasonal plays, games, singing carols, cheerful celebration, and especially drinking, were banned by the Puritan-dominated Parliament of England in 1644, with the Puritans of New England following suit. Christmas was outlawed in Boston, and the Plymouth colony made celebrating Christmas a criminal offense.

The Christmas holiday celebrated today comes from pre-Christian Germanic, Roman, and Celtic people who celebrated the winter solstice. The use of holly, mistletoe, yule logs, wassail bowls, and decorating a tree comes from early pagan customs. Trees have historically represented nature or Mother Nature, and have a long history of being the center of celebrations. The evergreen is recognized for it's promise of the return of the "greening" of life in the coming Spring season.

The Goddess religions reigned for 20,000 years and certain trees and groves represented her. Later, the Jewish mystical Kabbalah wisdom teachings use the Tree as a symbol of the pathway to enlightenment.  Many European countries still call this celebration "Yule-tide" meaning "wheel time," the cycles of time. None of these derive from Christian origin.

The Romans celebrated the Winter Solstice on December 25th as a renewing of the sun every year as well as the festival of the Saturnalia from December 17th to the 24th to honor Saturn, the god of grain and agriculture. The festival consisted of a period of goodwill, devoted to visiting friends and the giving of gifts.

At the beginning of the first century, Christianity emerged as a fledgling religion but not until the 4th century did Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. The motive behind the introduction of this celebration was to subvert the practice of pagan rituals such as Saturnalia. Pope Liberus introduced the Nativity on December 25th 354 C.E.. By the 5th century, the event became so customary that it began to mark the beginning of the ceremonial year.

Christmas trees and decorations were considered to be unholy pagan rituals, and the Puritans also banned traditional Christmas foods such as mince pies and pudding. Puritan laws required that stores and businesses remain open all day on Christmas, and town criers walked through the streets on Christmas Eve calling out "No Christmas, no Christmas!"

In England, the ban on the holiday was lifted in 1660, when Charles II took over the throne. However, the Puritan presence remained in New England and Christmas did not become a legal holiday there until 1856. Even then, some schools continued to hold classes on December 25 until 1870.

Although the change was gradual, people began to once again embrace the holiday until Christmas as we know it today – complete with mistletoe, eggnog and candy canes – was celebrated throughout the American colonies.

Today, we still celebrate with ornaments on trees, mistletoe and giving gifts, none of which has anything to do with Christian mythology. So instead of submitting to the yearly brainwashing from Faux News about their imagined war on Christmas, why not spend your time and energy enjoying the winter season with family and friends no matter their ritual and what they wish to name it.   Unfortunately we use religion to divide us and wish bad things upon those who don’t share our beliefs and start wars.  If someone wishes you a Happy Hanukkah or Happy Holidays be thankful they are wishing you well and do so in returrn.

This year let’s get outside and “winter walk” with our friends and family.  It is healthy and fun.  We are so lucky to have the ocean here, and it is there all year long.  Don't miss Strawbery Banke's Candlelight Stroll.  When you shop, support your friends and neighbors and do it with local businesses.  And don’t forget...a real book is a great gift.

I will wish you all a Happy Winter Solstice which begins December 21 and celebrates that our fragile planet still orbits the sun, and hope that we resolve to take better care of it in the New Year.